I am a 51-year-old nurse working in a pediatric intensive care unit in Helsinki. I have two adult daughters who both live on their own. I had been thinking for a long time that I would like to do some very concrete volunteer work somewhere in the world.
I had a desire to help those who need help!
Ukraine is quite close to Finland and I started to seriously consider it as a possible destination country. Do I dare to go to a country where there is a war, what if something happens to me there! However, I started to find out what kind of aid work would be available there. I wanted Finland to be involved in it on some level, it felt safer that way. I quickly found FinEst's website and everything I read there about the job description made me interested and apply. Soon Tarja sent me an email and we talked for a long time on the phone. After that call, we had agreed that I would go to Ukraine in June-25. At that time, we were living in January 2025.
During the spring, many thoughts ran through my mind. I followed the news closely and the air raids began to spread increasingly to the West. I cannot deny that it had excited and frightened my own mind. The moment of departure arrived. A flight from Helsinki to Krakow, from there a 16-hour night bus towards Ukraine. When I arrived in the country by bus in the morning, the sun had just risen and I couldn't help but wonder how beautiful it was there. It seemed absurd that there was war in the country. I was picked up by car from an agreed place and from there towards the "yellow house" a little further out of town.
I was welcomed very warmly. The others had already been at the house for a while, but I felt welcome right away. My English is anything but fluent, but it was getting better every day and I no longer worried about how I would cope with the language. The people at the house were all absolutely wonderful and I miss them. We are still in contact with each other.
The work started in the mornings at around 9 am. We picked up packages from the post office, unpacked, sorted, packed, sent and transported relief supplies from one side to the other. We wove camouflage nets for the front, made protein bars to send to the soldiers. We also visited different schools in the mornings. We organized all kinds of fun activities for the children and at the same time they always learned a few words of English.
Once a week we helped out at Annas and Romans animal shelter. The days passed quickly and everything we did was really rewarding. It was also great to visit the hospital, where I was given a private tour of the different wards. And the jewelry made for me by the little girls at one of the schools is unforgettable, and I will cherish it for the rest of my life.
I enjoyed every moment in Ukraine. In a way, also those moments when, during the nighttime air raid, we took mattresses, blankets, pillows and all gathered in the hallway. That feeling of togetherness was perhaps tangible at that time, in my opinion.
On weekends, we went on day trips to nearby towns with other volunteers from the house, hiked, walked, sat by the campfire and shared moments from our own lives.
Local people. How friendly and hospitable.
However, you could see sadness and fatigue in their eyes.
At school, a little boy hadn't seen his father for a year.
My mind often became sensitive when I stopped to think about
how good things were for me.
I find myself longing to go back, I think about my own journey a lot.
I am proud of myself for daring, for finding the courage to leave.
I hope that one day I will still be sitting on a bus or train on the way to Ukraine.
Thank you FinEst for giving me the opportunity to come. A journey that I will never forget.
-Annukka
